PORT Adelaide's talent pool runs deeper this year than ever before according to midfielder Steven Salopek.
The 23-year-old will be recalled for the Power's NAB Cup quarter-final against Geelong after missing the win over the Swans to be with wife Alice and newborn son Louis.
It will be Salopek's first game for the club since sustaining a serious achilles injury in round 17 last season.
But he conceded the competition for spots at Alberton had left him feeling a little uncertain about his place in the side.
"I was sitting in the meeting room before training this morning and I was thinking, 'Geez, I hope I can get back in'," Salopek said on Wednesday.
"At the moment we’re fighting for spots and there are a few blokes to come back in. There are 13 new guys at the club and they want to be played.
"I reckon there are probably five or six guys who won’t play round one that you’d think would be definite starters in other teams. That’s how good our depth is and how well our recruiting staff have chosen these young kids."
First-year players helping to generate selection heat include heralded No. 4 draft pick Hamish Hartlett, recycled pair Danny Meyer and Jason Davenport and rookie Wade Thompson.
The Power also welcomed premiership midfielder Josh Carr back from Fremantle and added five others with senior experience at SANFL or WAFL level.
Salopek said the influx of readymade players had given the club a number of options at the selection table.
"This is the strongest it [the list] has been with all the young guys coming through," Salopek said.
"In previous years we had a lot more senior guys, but the young guys these days are just like little men and they can step straight in. They are ready to play football and there’s not much development to do.
"The team is so hard to get into and it’s a wonderful feeling to be a part of that."
The absence of Shaun Burgoyne, who will miss another week with hamstring soreness, will open the window for another promising youngster.
But the possible return of Salopek and defender Michael Pettigrew could shut the door on another.
Emerging forwards Nick Salter and Matthew Westhoff are waiting for their opportunity as is tough nut Nick Lower.
Salopek, who has been tried at half-back over the summer, said it was great to be back in the Power colours after a long recovery from his injury.
"Just to get out there two weeks ago and play against Sturt in the trial game was great," he said.
"I hadn’t played footy for six months before that, so it was nice to get out there for a bit of push and shove and to get a few touches.
"I missed it enormously and I didn’t realise just how much I did miss it until it was taken away from me."
Dream Team watch – Steven Salopek is rated a $416,200 midfielder in the Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.